I have my Indy all pulled apart for the conversion. I had expected it to be pretty easy as there are 6 electrical connections between the loco and the tender, eliminating the usual need to add any. I've removed the sound card from the tender and now have the locomotive apart to trace the wiring. This locomotive has a level of electrical complexity above the 10-wheeler, as there's a circuit board in the loco which provides a regulated supply to the smoke unit (didn't work from day one) and it also drops the voltage down for the LED lights, front and rear. What I was surprised was to find was three wires going to the motor. A blue and green wire go to the two tabs on the end, but a white wire also goes to the metal case of the motor? So, I'm about to rip the circuit board out of the bolier, plus the NRMA switch and just leave the smoke switch to use with a replacement Bachmann smoke unit I've had around for ever. I had planned to place the decoder in the tender, but there is space in the loco with the board removed. However, that space may end up being used to add some more weight to a notoriously light engine, so I'll probably stay with the tender install. Just wondered if anyone knows the purpose of the white wire? I'll be experimenting with a new (for me) sound decoder, an MRC 1819 which is very attractively prices at around $70 retail. I'll be posting my observations, and if I remember, photos at this site over the next couple of weeks. |